YouTube TV key plays is a view that tracks the important plays in a game so you can tap one and rewatch it. On a TV, select the Scores and stats button at the bottom right while a game plays. On your phone, swipe right to left along the bottom of the screen.
Key plays is built for anyone who starts a game late. Rather than scrubbing back through two hours of recording, you get a list of the moments that mattered and can jump straight to each one. It sits alongside stats and scores in what YouTube TV calls views.
The four YouTube TV sports views
| View | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Key plays | Important plays in the game. Tap one to rewatch it |
| Stats | Live team and player stats, matched to the moment you're watching |
| Scores | Live scores and standings across the league |
| Fantasy football | Your linked ESPN or Yahoo fantasy team, during NFL games |
How to see key plays on your TV
- Open the YouTube TV app on your smart TV and start a game.
- Use your remote to select the Scores & stats button at the bottom right of the screen.
- Key plays, stats and scores appear down the right side.
- Press back on your remote to return to the full picture.
YouTube TV says this TV view is still rolling out to different sports, so it may appear for one league and not another.
How to see key plays on your phone
- Open the YouTube TV app and choose a live or recorded game.
- Swipe right to left along the bottom of the screen to bring up key plays, stats and scores.
- Tap a key play to watch it.
- Swipe left to right along the bottom to go back to the game.
Using your phone as a second screen
This is the setup I'd recommend for big games. Watch on the TV, and keep the views on your phone so the main picture is never covered:
| Your TV setup | How to get key plays on your phone |
|---|---|
| Chromecast | Open YouTube TV on your phone, tap Cast, choose your TV, then swipe right to left along the bottom |
| Apple TV, Roku, Xbox or other streaming device | Sign in on the streaming device and start the game. Open the app on your phone on the same Wi-Fi, tap Cast, then swipe right to left |
When you tap a key play on your phone, it plays on the TV you're connected to. That's the neat part: your phone becomes a remote for highlights.
Catching up without spoilers
Here's the detail that makes views so useful for late starters. YouTube TV says the stats view is linked to the time you're watching, so if you're behind live or watching a recording, the stats match your point in the game rather than the real score. You can check numbers without seeing the result.
Key plays work the other way round: they're a catch-up tool. If you've started late and want to get level with the live game, jump through the key plays one by one and you'll be up to speed in a few minutes. Just be aware that the list itself tells you what happened, so avoid opening it if you want to watch every minute fresh. And keep the Scores view closed too, because that shows live results from across the league.
Fantasy football view
During NFL games there's a fourth view for fantasy players. YouTube TV lets you link an existing ESPN or Yahoo fantasy football account, then shows your team and league performance in real time while you watch. It's in the same place as key plays: the Scores and stats button on a TV, or a swipe along the bottom on your phone. If you play fantasy, this saves flicking between the game and another app every time one of your players touches the ball.
As with scores, it reflects what's happening live, so it can reveal results from other games before you've watched them. If you're catching up on a recording, leave it closed until you're level with the live action.
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Key plays not showing?
- Update the YouTube TV app. YouTube TV says to use the latest version on your phone.
- The sport may not support views on TV yet, as the feature is still rolling out.
- Make sure you're watching a sporting event. Views don't appear on other programmes.
- When using your phone as a second screen, check the phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- If the app itself won't play, try restarting your TV or streaming device.
If your problem is the stream rather than the key plays, my guides to fixing YouTube when it stops working and YouTube stuttering cover the playback fixes.
My verdict
Key plays is one of YouTube TV's best features for anyone who can't watch every game live. Use it on your phone as a second screen so the TV picture stays clear, tap a play to send it to the big screen, and keep the stats view open if you're behind live, because it won't spoil the score. If you want to watch the whole game fresh, leave key plays and scores closed until the final whistle.
Frequently asked questions
What are key plays on YouTube TV?
A view that lists the important moments in a game so you can tap one to rewatch it. It sits alongside stats, scores and fantasy football views.
How do I see key plays on YouTube TV?
On a TV, select the Scores and stats button at the bottom right. On a phone, swipe right to left along the bottom of the screen.
Do YouTube TV stats spoil the score?
The stats view matches the moment you're watching, so it won't show later stats if you're behind live. Key plays and scores can reveal results.
Why can't I see key plays on my TV?
The TV view is still rolling out to different sports. Update the app, or use your phone as a second screen instead.
